Kazma's Defeat in Erbil Costs Them Half a Dozen Points
Kazma suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat against Iraqi Erbil in the Gulf Champions League, while Saudi Al-Ettifaq beat Ajman 2-0.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Kuwait suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Iraqi side Al-Arbil in their match yesterday, as part of Group 3 of the Gulf Club Champions League. The victory moved the winners to six points, while Al-Kuwait (the Orange) remained winless after suffering their third consecutive loss.
In another match within the same group, Saudi club Al-Ittihad defeated UAE’s Ajman 2-0.
Al-Arbil’s six goals were scored by Nigerian player Ezi, who netted in the 28th minute. Brazilian striker Merlinin scored a super hat-trick in the 45+1, 48, 58, and 76th minutes, and Ibrahim Babes added another goal in the 83rd minute.
This defeat was unworthy of Al-Kuwait’s stature. The team appeared fragile from the start, with obvious errors and a lack of cohesion. Their play was disjointed, and key players such as Senegalese forward Ndao, Nasser Al-Falih, Khaled Shammam, and Nasser Mohammed failed to control the game. They were overwhelmed by sluggishness and unable to cope with the speed of their opponents, who executed their fast-paced tactics effectively.
This dominance was reflected in Al-Kuwait’s defense, where Fahad Al-Hajri, Saleh Al-Mutairb, and full-backs Mohammed Antar and Abdullah Al-Fahad struggled immensely against the rapid tempo of the opposition. Mistakes were not confined to one line; defensive disorganization led to confusion across the pitch, with an inability to mark strikers Ezi and Merlinin, who both scored hat-tricks.
Although Al-Kuwait were missing some key players, including suspended Idriss Shaibi and injured Robinson, this is no excuse. The coach should have better managed the match conditions and fully recognized the strength of the opponent, who clearly relied on professional players who proved decisive.
Despite the substitutions made by the coach, there was no improvement in performance; in fact, the situation worsened, with errors increasing in the second half. The team eventually collapsed, conceding four goals as chaos engulfed the ranks and the team’s structure completely disintegrated, leaving them unable to halt the opponent’s rhythm.
This painful loss requires immediate intervention from the club’s management to put Al-Kuwait back on the right track.
